Engine cooling system



Sept. 25, 1934. D. B. WORTH ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 25, 1934. D, B, WORTH ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -"Annular-"11111111:"In";

Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES- ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Daniel B. Worth, Rochelle, Ill.

Application January 23, 1933, Serial No. 653,021

Claims. (Cl. 123-170) therefore, the principal object of my invention toprovide an equalizing tank or reservoir between the two circulating systems in which thecom- 1 mingling of thewater will occur in such a way as to insure having the water discharged at the same mean temperature to the two systems.

The fact that one engine may be idle while theother is running gives rise to the possibility of freezing of the water in the idle system unless some precaution is taken to prevent it. In accordance with my invention, I have, therefore, provided a connection between the systems for the circulation of a certain amount of hot water 5 from the operating system through the idle system to prevent freezing and also maintain the idle engine at a temperature which will permit easy starting. Other objects and attendant advantages of my invention'will be brought out in the course of the following detailed description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a system showing the various parts in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Figure'l, and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the equalizing tank as indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in the three views.

In the gas or oil electric locomotive for which the present cooling system was designed, radiators 4 and 5 are provided at opposite ends, facing in opposite directions with respect to the engineers cab at the middle. A front portion of each of two opposedinternal combustion engines 6 and 7 is shown in dotted lines behind the radiators. These have the usual/hose connections 8 and 9 for conducting hot water from the heads of the engines to the upper ends of the radiators, and also have the usual pumps 10 and 11 for supplying the water or other coolant to the lower end of the engine jackets. Now, instead of having the pumps 10 and 11 drawing water from the diagram of my improved cooling lower endsof the radiators 4 and 5 in the conventional manner, I have provided pipes 12 and 13 to draw water from an equalizing or commingling tank 14 disposed between the opposed engines. This tank has pipes 15 and 16 delivering water thereto from the bottoms of the two radiators. The opportunity aiforded for mixture of the water from the two systems in the tank 14 is to insure having the water delivered to the jackets of the two engines through pipes 12 and 13 at the same temperature, regardless of which direction the locomotive is going or whether it is at a standstill, and regardless of the individual load or speed conditions of the engines. This result is best assured by causing good diffusion or commingling of the water in the tank in the discharge thereof into the tank through pipes 15 and 16, and with that point in mind it will be observed in Fig. 3 that I have extended the pipes 15 and 16 to the middle of the tank from points near the opposite ends, and disposed their outlet ends in opposed relation on the center line of the tank, and have furthermore slotted the walls at the discharge ends, as indicated at 17 and 18, and inserted conical bafiles 19 and'20 in the ends to insure dis- 7 charge of the water radially in all directions and in substantially conical planes intersecting one another. This makes it certain that the water from the two systems will be .brought into intimate contact to equalize the temperature before the water can reach the ends of the tank from which it is drawn into the systems again through pipes 12 and 13.

In locomotives of the type referred to, the two engines are not always run simultaneously and it is, therefore, a problem to keep the water in the idle circulating system from freezing in cold weather. I have provided a cross connection between the upper' ends of the radiators 4 and 5,

as shown at 21, through which hot water from the operating system-will be conducted for circulation through the idle system when only one engine is running. Thus, if we assume that engine 7 is running, the hot water going from the head no of this engine will be conducted partly downwardly through the radiator 5 and partly through the pipe 21 to the topof radiator 4. At the radiator another division occurs, a portion going downwardly through the radiat r 4 and the balance downwardly through the ose connection 8 1 for circulation through the jacket of engine 6. The water is eventually returned to the tank 14 through pipes 12 and 15. This keeps the circulating system for the engine 6 at a temperature well above freezing and keeps the engine in condition for easier starting.

In cold weather operation where anti-freeze solutions are used, such as alcohol, it is, of course, desirable to return to the system as much as possible of any condensed vapors. With that object in view I have provided the gravity tank 22, to the bottom of which are connected vent pipes 23 and 24 extended from the tops of the radiators 4 and 5. The filler caps shown at seal the radiators, and any surging of the liquid in heating will result in flow through the vent pipes 23 and 24 up to the tank 22. A drain pipe 26 communicates with the tank 22 slightly below the top so that air in the head space in the tank will prevent siphoning. Vapors conducted to the gravity tank and condensed there will, of course, have an opportunity to drain back to the systems, thereby effecting a substantial saving in anti-freeze solution.

Locomotives of the type mentioned have air compressors to supply the air pressure for the brake system- The air compressor herein shown .at 27 is driven by a separate small internal combustion engine 28. In accordance with my invention, water is drawn from the tank 14 in the operation of the pump 29 of the engine 28 and circulated through the jackets of the compressor 2'7 and engine 28 and then conducted with other water to be cooled through the radiators 4 and 5 and eventually returned to the tank 14. For this purpose a pipe connection 30 is made between the tank 14 and the jacket of the compressor 2'7 to deliver water from the tank to the compressor, and the water is conducted through a pipe 31 from the top of the compressor to the bottom of the jacket of the engine 28. The hot water leaving the engine 28 is conducted in both directions through pipe 21 to the tops of the radiators 4 and 5 by virtue of the connection 32. The pump 29 must, of course, be one adapted to operate at a higher pressure than obtainable under any condition of operation of the. pumps 10 and 11 of the engines 6 and 7.

Attention is also called to the hot water heaters 33 and 34 which are mounted in convenient positions in the engineer's cab. Pipes 35 and 36 connect the tops of these heaters with the pipe 21 so as to be supplied with hot water under pressure for circulation downwardly through the cores of the heaters, and other pipes 37 and 38 connect the bottoms of the heaters with the pipe 30 for return of the water to the intake side of the jacket of the compressor 2'7. Vent pipes 39 and 40 connect the tops of vtheheaters with the gravity tank 22 to insure against having any air pockets in the upper ends of the heaters and also give an opportunity for condensation of any vapors thatmight be present.

In conclusion, it will be observed that valves 41 and 42 are provided on the bottom tanks 0! radiators 4 and 5 to permit drainage of the complete system.. The system is drained without leaving any water pockets where freezing can occur and cause bursting oi pipes.

. It is believed the foregoing description gives a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. While reference has been made in this description to use 01' the cooling system on locomotives, it should, of course, be understood that the invention is not to be regarded as limited to that special application, inasmuch as it is useable with engines operated in tandem under many diflerent conditions. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. The combination of two internal combustion engines having cooling jackets, said engines being arranged for independent or simultaneous operation, individual cooling systems for said engines for circulation of cooling medium through the jackets, a separate circulating pump in each system, a mixing tank, connections for discharg ing cooling medium from said systems into said tank and other connections for delivering cooling medium from the tank to said systems, said connections being so disposed with respect to each other as to permit mixture of the cooling medium .from the two systems whereby to insure delivery of cooling medium at the-[same temperature to the systems. a

2. The combination setfor in claim 1 wherein the connections between .the tankand systems are on the cold side of the systems, the combination including a connection between the hot sides of said systems, said connection being arranged to conduct cooling medium at a high temperature from one system to the other to superinduce circulation in the idle system when only one engine is, running, the pumps in said systems being of a type permitting flow of the cooling medium therethrough in the reverse from normal direction for the purpose stated.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the two systems are substantially sealed against loss of cooling medium to the atmosphere, the combination including a closed gravity tank above the level of the two systems. connections between the tops of said systems and said tank for conducting cooling medium to the latter, and an overflow for said tank below the top thereof.

- 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the connections between the systems and the tank is on the cold side of the systems, the combination including a connection establishing communication between the hot sides of the systems to further equalize temperature of the cooling medium in the two systems and permit flow from one system to the other system when only one engine is running, a space heater operable by radiation of heat from the cooling medium, means establishing communication between said connection and said heater and other means establishing communication between the heater and the mixing tank, whereby circulation is insured through the heater under conditions of one or both angines operating.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the two systems are sealed against loss of cooling medium to the atmosphere, and wherein the connections between the systems and the mixing tank are on the cold side of the systems, the combination including a closed gravity tank above the level of the systems, means establishing communication between the gravity tank and the tops of said systems for conducting cooling medium to the gravity tank, said gravity tank having an' overflow below the top wall thereof, a connection between the hot sides of said systems for further equalization of the temperature of the cooling medium in the two systems and for permitting circulation of cooling medium from one system through the other when only one engine is running, a space heater operable by radiation of heat from the cooling medium, means establishing communication between the heater and the last mentioned connection, other means establishing communication between the heater; and themixing tank, whereby to insure circulation of cooling medium through said heater under conditions of one or both engines operating, and a vent connection between said heater and thegravity tank.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the connections between said systems and the mixing tank is on the cold side of the systems, the combination including a connection between the hot sides of said systems to further equalize temperature of the cooling medium in the two systems and permit flow of cooling medium from one system to the other when only one engine is rlmning, anauxiliary engine having acooling jacket, means establishing communication between the discharge of said jacket and the last mentioned connection, and means for delivering cooling medium from the mixing tank to said jacket, said auxiliary engine having a circulat-' ing pump for inducing circulation of cooling mediumirom the tank through thejacket of the auxiliary engine.

7. The combination of two internal combustion engines having cooling jackets, an individual cooling system for each engine for circulation of a cooling medium through the jacket thereof,

. to be mixed, other valveless connections between the tank. and the pumps for delivering cooling medium aftermixture in the tank to the cooling' systems at substantially the same temperature, and a valveless connection between the upper and hotter portions of said systems for permitting flow of cooling medium from one system to the other in the event of an unbalanced condition between the two systems when both'engines are running, and to provide for superinduced circulation of cooling medium through the idle system when only one engine is running.

-8. The combination set, forth in claim 7 including an auxiliary engine having a cooling jacket, a valveless connection between the discharge of 'said jacket and the connection between the upper portions of said systems, and a valveless connection for delivering cooling medium from the mixing tank to the intake of said jacket, said auxiliary engine having a circulating pump for inducing circu ation of cooling medium from the mixing tank through said jacket whenever said engine is running. V

9. The combination set forth in claim 7 including a space heater operable by radiation of heat from the circulating medium circulated therethrough, means for delivering cooling medium to the heater from the hot connection between the upper portions of said systems, and means, for returning cooling medium from the heater to the mixing tank, the connections recited insuring circulation of cooling medium through said heater under conditions of one or both engines operating.

10. In an engine cooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat there from, a single reservoir containing a certain volume of cooling fluid, means for conducting cooling fluid from the two radiators into said reservoir at a point or points spaced from two outlet openings provided in said reservoir, whereby to afiord opportunity for mixture of the incomtially mid-point, substantially equally spaced from the opposite ends of the reservoir, the outlet openings being at opposite .ends of the reservoir.

12., A system as set forth'in claim 10, wherein the means conducting fluid from the radiators to the reservoir include discharge pipes entering the reservoir and extending to a substantially mid-point, substantially equally spaced from the opposite ends of the reservoir, the outlet openingsbeing at opposite ends of the reservoir, said structure including means on the inner ends of said discharge pipes for dispersing the fluid upon discharge into said reservoir so as to insure better mixture of the incoming fluid with the fluid in the reservoir.

13. A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the means conducting fluid from the radiators to the reservoir include discharge pipes entering the reservoir and extending toward each other to a substantially mid-point, substantially equally spaced from the opposite ends of the reservoir, the outlet openings being at opposite ends of the reservoir, the structure including means on the discharge ends of said pipes for causing dispersion of the fluid in all directions in the discharge of the fluid fromthe pipes toward each other, whereby to insure mixture of the fluid discharged from the two pipes with each other and with the fluid in the reservoir.

l4. Inan engine cooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat therefrom, a single reservoir containing a certain volume of cooling fluid, means for conducting cooling fluid from the two radiators into said reservoir at a point or points spaced from two outlet openings provided in said reservoir, whereby to aiford opportunity for mixture of the incoming fluid with the fluid in the reservoir before discharge from the reservoir, means for conducting fluid from the outlets to. the jackets of the engines, and a pipe connection between the two' radiators establishing communication between the inlet ends thereof, whereby to'superinduce a certain amount of circulation through the one engine and its radiator when the same is idle and the other engine is running.

15. In an engine cooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines,a separate means for each engine for discharging hot fluid from the jacket of the engine directly into the intake end of the radiator for radiation of heat therefrom, intercommunicating means for-establishing communication between the outlet ends of the radiators and the jackets, whereby to permit interexchange and mixture of cooling fluid between the engines, and means supplemental to the first means for establishing direct communication between the intake ends of the radiators to balance the pressure therebetween and the flow through said radiators, and,

in addition, superinduce a certain amount of circulation in the jacket and radiator of one engine while it is idle and the other engine is running.

16. In an engine cooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat therefrom, an equalizing tank connected with the radiators so as to have cooling fluid discharged therein from the radiators for mixture with the fluid in the tank, whereby to equalize temperatures of the cooling fluid availablefor delivery to the jackets of the two engines, irrespective of the difierence in operating conditions of the two engines, and means for conducting fluid at substantially the same temperature from the tank to the jackets of the engines.

17. A system as set forth in claim 16 including a cross-connection between the upper ends of the two radiators to further balance the temperature conditions as between the two engines and permit of circulation of cooling fluid from the passages of one engine to and through the passages of the other when only one engine is operating.

18. In an engine cooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each havinga jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat therefrom, an equalizing tank connected with the radiators so as to have cooling fluid discharged therein from the radiators for mixture with the fluid in the tank, whereby to equalize temperatures of the cooling fluid available for delivery to V the jackets of the two engines, irrespective of the difierence in operating conditions of the two engines, means for conducting fluid at substantially the same temperature from the tank to the jackets of the engines, a cross-connection establishing communication between the discharge ports of the tw'o jackets, an auxiliary device having a jacket for circulation of cooling fluid therethrough, and means for conducting cooling fluid from the mixing tank to one end of said jacket and for conducting fluid from the other end of said jacket to the cross-connection.

19. In an enginecooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling. fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat therefrom, an equalizing tank connected with the radiators so as to have cooling fluid discharged therein from the radiators for mixture with the fluid in the tank, whereby to equalize temperatures of the cooling fluid available for delivery to the jackets of the two engines, irrespective of the diflerence in operating conditions of the two engines, means for conducting fluid at substantially the same temperature from the tank to the jackets of the engines, a pipe line establishing communication between the upper ends of the radiators, an auxiliary engine driving an air compressor, the air compressor and auxiliary engine each having a jacket for the'circulation of cooling fluid therethrough, and means for conducting cooling fluid from the mixing tank ,for circulation through the jackets of the compressor and its engine and for conducting fluid from said jackets to the last-mentioned pipe line.

20. In an engine cooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat therefrom, an equalizing tank connected with the radiators so asto have cooling fluid discharged therein from the radiators for mixture with the fluid in the tank, whereby to equalize temperatures of the .cooling fluid available for delivery to the jackets of the two engines, irrespective of the difference in operating conditions of the two engines, means for conducting fluid at substantially the same temperature from the tank to the jackets of the engines, a pipe connection establish'mg communication between the discharge ports of the engine jackets, one or more space heaters. adapted to have fluid for heating purposes circulated therethrough, and means for conducting fluid from said pipe connection to said heaters and from said heaters to the mixing tank. 21. The combination of two internal combustion engines having cooling jackets, said engines being arranged for independent or simultaneous operation, individual cooling systems for said engines for circulation of cooling medium through the jackets, a separate circulating pump in each system, a mixing tank, connections for discharging cooling medium from said systems into said tank and other connections for delivering cooling medium from the tank to said systems, said connections being so disposed with respect to each other to permit mixture of the cooling medium from the two systems whereby to insure delivery of cooling medium at the same temperature to the systems, and a drain valve in the lowest portion of each system, said systems being constructed so as to avoid forming water pockets in any portions thereof whereby-to permit complete drainage.

22. The combination of two internal combustion engines having cooling jackets, said engines being arranged for independent or simultaneous operation, individual cooling systems for said engines for circulation of cooling medium through the jackets, a separate circulating pump in each system, a mixing tank, connection for discharging cooling medium from said systems into said tank and other connections for delivering cooling medium from the tank to said systems, and means for causing mixture of the cooling medium in the tank.

23. In an engine cooling system, the combination of plural internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat therefrom, a fluid mixer into which cooling fluid from the several radiators is conducted for temperature equalization, and means for. conducting fluid from the mixer to the jacket of the engines.

24.'In an engine cooling system, the combination of a plurality of internal combustion engines. each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat therefrom, an equalizing tank connected with the radiators so as to have cooling fluid discharged therein fromthe radiators for mixture respective of the difference in operating conditions of the several engines, and means for conducting fluid at substantially the same temperature from the tank to the jackets of the engines.

25. In an engine cooling system, the combination of two internal combustion engines each having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a cooling fluid, a radiator for each of said engines having fluid discharged therein from the jacket of the engine for radiation of heat there- 

